Gaffney hoping to start

With the departure of Donté Stallworth to Cleveland, the prevailing theory is the Patriots are in the market for a No. 3 receiver.

That’s true. To a point.

Stallworth started nine regular-season games last season while catching 46 passes for 697 yards and three touchdowns. He ranked third among the team’s receivers in receptions, trailing Wes Welker (122) and Randy Moss (98).

But if Stallworth was the No. 3 receiver, Jabar Gaffney was 3A.

Gaffney started seven games during the regular season and one in the playoffs. He had 36 receptions for 449 yards and five TDs, including that memorable, tight-rope walking game-winner with 44 seconds left against the Ravens.

Whether Chad Jackson is finally ready to live up to his potential has been a topic of discussion early in training camp. Meanwhile, Gaffney has — as usual — quietly gone about his business.

“Like I’ve always done, I come out here and work,” he said after yesterday’s morning workout. “And whenever they call upon me — start, coming in in certain situations — I need to be ready.”

However, don’t think Gaffney wouldn’t mind being a full-time starter.

“I always want to get on the field as much as I can,” the seven-year veteran said. “Any guy playing should always want to be on the field as much as possible. And, of course, I always want to be out there and help contribute and make plays to help the team win.”

The Patriots plucked Gaffney off the free agent market early in the 2006 season. He’s turned out to be a nice catch and someone who can make nice catches.

Gaffney had another yesterday, pulling in a lob from Matt Gutierrez in the left corner of the end zone with safety Brandon Meriweather in tight coverage. It was all concentration.

“That’s one of the things I’ve always worked, having an awareness on the field of where you’re at and being able to make the catch and get both feet down,” Gaffney said.

Gaffney is looking forward to a strong season, but his year has already gotten off to a great start as his wife gave birth to the couple’s second child in March. So far, so good as Teagan and her 2-year-old brother, Jackson, have gotten along wonderfully.

“He’s lovin’ her right now — until she gets old enough to start getting into his toys,” Gaffney chuckled.

Nick Kaczur, the Patriots’ legally challenged offensive lineman, was removed from the physically unable to perform list and practiced for the first time yesterday.

Kaczur, who made 18 starts (playoffs included) at right tackle last season, lined up at left tackle with the second team. He was playing right guard at minicamp in June.

“It’s good to get Nick out there,” coach Bill Belichick said. “Nick’s been a good player for us. He’s played a couple different spots. We will probably be able to use that versatility now that our numbers are a little bit low on the offensive line but hopefully they will climb back up here soon.”

There are still 10 players on the PUP list, including linemen Stephen Neal, Oliver Ross and Ryan Wendell. With Matt Light sitting out the morning session, Wesley Britt took his spot at left tackle on the top line with Ryan O’Callaghan at right tackle. Billy Yates was next to him in Neal’s guard spot.

As of yesterday morning, the Patriots had practiced in pads for five of their first six workouts. That continues a training camp trend that began last year when Belichick estimated the team worked out in pads all but one or two times.

“I have kind of gone back to the old school way like in 2000 and 2001 where it was a lot of time on fundamentals and individual techniques in pads,” he said. “All the things you can practice with pads, especially in a running game in the early part of camp. Hopefully, that can carry you through the course of the season and that you can be a good fundamental and technique team even though you are not spending time on it because you have to deal with all the schematic things that you face from week to week.”

There was a very strong turnout by the fans for the early practice and they were loud and enthusiastic throughout. The Patriots gave them many

Some of the highlight’s included a nifty interception by Gary Guyton in which the rookie free agent linebacker displayed his athleticism, a pass breakup by Tedy Bruschi and TD catches by tight end David Thomas and the aforementioned Gaffney grab.

Bruschi had the line of the day, twice turning to the crowd that was jockeying to catch footballs kicked by Stephen Gostkowski and yelling, “If you’re over 40, you can’t catch ’em.”

In addition to Light, defensive end Richard Seymour, tight end Benjamin Watson and cornerback Jason Webster were among those sitting out yesterday’s first practice. The second session, scheduled to be outdoors at 5:30 p.m., was moved inside because of rain and closed to the public. … First-year offensive lineman Pete McMahon was signed. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. … Rookie offensive lineman Lav Bauta was waived, adding to a stretch in which he was signed Tuesday, released Thursday and re-signed Saturday. … The Patriots are scheduled to practice once today, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. That’s not all that’s going on at Gillette Stadium as a blood drive will be held from noon to 6 p.m. Donors will receive a commemorative Patriots/Revolution T-shirt and a pint of premium ice cream.